Nebulous

Here's an interesting article comparing the growth in incomes for the bottom 50% of the population in USA with France. http://equitablegrowth.org/research-analysis/economic-growth-in-the-united-states-a-tale-of-two-countries/ We've been holidaying in France on a regular basis for about 30 years. I've seen bits of this for myself. When we first went to stay in Gites we would be staying in the farmhouse while the farmer would be staying in a farm shed or tiny cottage. More recently we've still been in the farmhouse, with the farmer in a new build house nearby. The improvement in the roads and infrastructure within that time has been very impressive as well.

The last couple of tanks I've come across, one at work and one at my daughter's house, have had a thing like this. https://www.fueltankshop.co.uk/apollo-standard/p1889 I never knew what was in the tank, but found the gauge which simply plugged into a mains socket very effective. Simple bar reader, when you get down to the last couple of bars order a refill.

Well we are back home, a little older, and possibly a tiny bit wiser! We had a great holiday, across the top of Spain to Girona, up into France, great weather in the South, moved up to Limousin, Picardy and home via Calais. As far as house-hunting went we had very little success. Mainly tracking down houses we had seen online and discounting them without even a viewing. We had an appointment arranged before we left home to see one house, but the agent contacted us two days before to point out it wasn't a true two bedroom, despite being advertised that way, but was one bedroom and a dressing room which could be used as a single bedroom. We came to the conclusion that our budget wasn't enough to get what we wanted in the South-East, though we really liked the area, staying at Colombiers, visiting Beziers and the roman fort at Nissan-lez-Enserune. We then went to Limousin, partly because it is reputed to have the cheapest property prices in France. We looked in Uzerche, with one cottage in particular which appeared very good in the photos, but it was very disappointing when we found it. The drop in the £ has made a significant difference to purchasing power. Even in the nearly 3 weeks we were away the rate we got dropped from 1.16 to 1.09 euros to the pound. Quite noticeable since last year in a basket of shopping. Certainly noticeable on a 60,000 euro purchase. We have decided our 60,000 euro budget isn't enough to get what we want -  two bedrooms with good structure and connections to drainage / electric etc and hopefully a bit of outside space, a roof terrace or patio. Given that a fairly modest one-bedroom flat at home would be difficult to get for less than £100,000 I don't suppose we should be surprised. We may well have been expecting too much. Some of the refurbishment properties in Limousin came with a lot of land - 8000 square metres in one case, but that would be more of a liability than a benefit for a holiday house. So we're home and need to reflect and research more over the winter. We also need to consider increasing our budget and that will partly be dependent on the exchange rate. Thanks to everyone for all your help advice and suggestions.

[quote user="NormanH"]Sue is quite right about the house in Coursan. There is no t. errace or garden. Only you can know if having a bit of outside space is important of course. There is plenty of countryside, and beaches are close, but it is true that it is nice to just relax at home with a drink or brekky on the terrace. At the same time that is something that puts up the price... [/quote] That's the kind of stuff I need to work out for myself Norman. I appreciate the suggestions you've been a great help. The house in Trebes has a roof terrace, which was a big part of the attraction, but the one you linked to looks much nicer inside and is in what I would consider a better area (nearer the coast) Buying anything always involves compromises and different people will put different values on the same things. I'm aware that at the bottom end of the market my choices will be limited. I've emailed one of the advertisers you linked to, asking for outside photos and if we can view in early October. The second one is more of a challenge, as the advert said contact by phone only. My French might not quite be up to that! I'll get somebody to help. 

[quote user="grumpyaudeman"]Hi Quillan is just down the road for me it's the pits After 18 months nearby cannot wait to move back to the Pays Basque The Aude is a very poor area cheap properties but poor services and the locals are not friendly beggars are everywhere begging a cigarette I have lived in France 20 years and this area is not on my hit list we have to travel 30 minutes along a tight gorge to Axat for a Doctor and dentist because there are no professionals locally[/quote] Thanks grumpyaudeman. We haven't actually been to Quillan yet, and may find it puts us off as well. We intend having a good look around this time when we're over. We really expected to like the Pays Basque, but it was our least impressive holiday to France to date. Miles and miles of maritime pines and very few tourist attractions. There were some impressive caves and a mountainside railway, but they were quite a journey from where we stayed. Maybe we need to give it another try at some point.

[quote user="NormanH"]Going further over towards the coast you have this one betwee, Narbonne and Béziers, in Coursan which make it very handy for the beach or the Autoroute down to Catalunya: https://www.leboncoin.fr/ventes_immobilieres/1010936312.htm?ca=13_s [/quote] Thanks very much Norman - that's very kind of you. That's the best one I've seen yet. Last year we travelled up from Girona and spent a few days on a campsite at Loupian near Mèze. We assumed property nearer the coast would be more expensive but I really like that. 

Yes that is the same one, which is also being offered at 90k. That's another interesting one you've found in Capendu. The first one I linked to is in Trèbes. Thanks

[quote user="alittlebitfrench"]Norman wrote: "It is of course nonsense to say that one can't find a house around 60,000€" True, but its advertised price will be twice that. For example, if you can buy a house advertised at 120,000 euros for 60,000 euros you are of course buying a 60 k euro house. Most areas of France are completely overpriced. A lot of houses in rural areas have negative value. That why new builds are so popular. [/quote] I get that. I live in Scotland where there has been a constant battle to overcome rural depopulation. Houses have limited value and have at times been seen as a liability, rather than an asset. What has bailed them out and increased the selling prices has been an influx of people and money from elsewhere. So you get a bubble in London, people realise that they can get a 5 bedroom detached house for the price of their one bedroom flat and they ship out. Locals think they are silly for what they paid. They think they're lucky getting a house of that size at that price. Their enthusiasm wears off ...... but that's a different story. Are you really saying that an absolutely silly offer is worth trying? I like that for instance. http://www.green-acres.com/en/properties/21538a-2753.htm The agent claims it has been reduced already. Do you think 60k would come anywhere near it?

[quote user="NormanH"] On the Toulouse side of Carcassonne, not far from the airport there  is this at Alzonne https://www.leboncoin.fr/ventes_immobilieres/989718842.htm?ca=13_s It is of course nonsense to say that one can't find a house around 60,000€. Perhaps not in a desirable suburban part of Tours or a large town where people can get jobs, but if all you want is a holiday place in a village it is certainly feasible. Don't think of it as an investment though and don't expect to be able to re-sell easily. The factors that make a house cheap to buy also make it hard to sell. [/quote] Thanks Norman - I like the look of that.  I'm not looking at it as an investment, more a bolthole, gradually moving to splitting my time fairly evenly between my current home and there.

Hi folks - thanks very much for your comments. We have been looking at websites, reading up on what we need to do and have contacted a couple of estate agents. We're looking for a village probably, 2-3 bedrooms, some outdoor space would be nice, without needing too much work! I'm certainly not looking to sink another 60k into it. How can I find somebody who has bought for 60, spent 60 on it and is willing to sell for 60? There is a lot of stuff out there which needs a ground up rebuild - basically a pile of stones that seem to have been moulded into a rough house shape. That may be ok for someone who can devote their life to it - but it isn't us. This appealed to us and we thought it would be worth a look. http://www.green-acres.com/en/properties/1638a-12250.htm We're not going to be pressured into buying - It doesn't have to be this holiday, we can always research more and take another trip to view.

Hi folks I've just joined the forum. We've holidayed in France on a regular basis and we are thinking about buying a holiday home there. We're getting a boat to Bilbao in late September, crossing the North of Spain then up the med coast fetching up in Calais almost 3 weeks later. In a caravan, with a dog. We're planning on viewing some houses on the way, probably in the area around Carcassonne. Very much fishing in the bottom end of the pool- with a budget of around 60,000 euros. The advice here seems to be don't! Expensive repairs, termites, electrics, shutters and buying fees all seem a real minefield. I'm glad of any suggestions, positive or negative, also suggestions on where to look, both area wise and specific houses welcome. Thanks